Pizza Ranch gets ready for grand opening

Friday was the soft opening for family and friends at the Charles City Pizza Ranch. The restaurant will open its doors to the public for the grand opening on Monday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

Friday was the soft opening for family and friends at the Charles City Pizza Ranch. The restaurant will open its doors to the public for the grand opening on Monday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

Norma Hernandez (left) and Rhonda Hoeft (right) greet people at Pizza Ranch during the soft opening on Friday in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

Charles City Pizza Ranch general manager Dustin Jentz and assistant manager Carla Winterink oversee the soft opening of the restaurant on Friday in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

Friday was the soft opening for family and friends at the Charles City Pizza Ranch. The restaurant will open its doors to the public for the grand opening on Monday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

Friday was the soft opening for family and friends at the Charles City Pizza Ranch. The restaurant will open its doors to the public for the grand opening on Monday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

Friday was the soft opening for family and friends at the Charles City Pizza Ranch. The restaurant will open its doors to the public for the grand opening on Monday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

Friday was the soft opening for family and friends at the Charles City Pizza Ranch. The restaurant will open its doors to the public for the grand opening on Monday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

Rylee Penera makes sure pizza is fresh and ready at the soft opening of the Charles City Pizza Ranch on Friday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

Friday was the soft opening for family and friends at the Charles City Pizza Ranch. The restaurant will open its doors to the public for the grand opening on Monday. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

Today is the “season opener” for the Pizza Ranch, as the restaurant reopen its doors to the public.

New owner Len Jentz held a soft opening for family and friends on Friday during lunch and dinner.

“This is a scrimmage is what it is,” said Jentz. “It’s just a good way for us to practice in a real-world situation.”

Jentz, who owns and operates the Pizza Ranch in Waverly, said he has hired 38 employees for the Charles City restaurant. Many of them were refilling drinks, busing tables and keeping the buffet and salad bar items freshly stocked on Friday morning and later on in the afternoon.

“We’ve been training our staff for the last two weeks and they’ve had practice on making our different products,” said Jentz.

The restaurant chain ceased operation in Charles City last June, but Jentz bought the store and did a complete inside remodel.

“I have felt so welcomed to the Charles City area. There’s been such positive feedback about what we’re doing and the fact that we’re reopening the store,” said Jentz.

He said he is excited for people from Charles City and the surrounding area to get the chance to see the inside of the restaurant today and experience all that Pizza Ranch has to offer.

“To have a place that people can gather with their family and celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and have that space that’s comfortable and clean is huge,” said Jentz.

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com
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